Improvement in desks



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

D. L. RANSOM.

Desk.

No. 197,290 Patented Nov. 20, 1877.

Lu Van tel",

fiat fall. R ansom N-FEILRS. FmTU-UTHDGRAPHER. WASHINGTON/fi C.

2 Sheet'S-Shget 2.

D. L. RANS OM.

Desk. No. 197,290. Patented Nov. 20, 1877.

mamas, PflO'Tli-UTHOMAPMER WASHINGTON. o t.

STA E PATENT QFFIGE.

DAVID L. RANSOM, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

IM PROVEMENT [N D'ESKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 197,290, dated November20, 1877; application filed April 24, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID L. RANSOM, of the city of Buffalo, in thecounty of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain-new anduseful Improvements in Business-Cabinets, which improvements are fullyset forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings, inwhich- Figure 1 is a front elevation; Fig. 2, aplan view of themachinery for raising or lowering the back or main desk. Fig. 3represents a side elevation; and Fig. 4, a cross section through thecenter of the cabinet, showing a side elevation of the machinery foroperating the several parts. Fig. 5 is aperspective view of the desk,and Fig. 6 is a cross-section of Fig.5.

The object of my invention is to construct a business-cabinet composedof two adjustable parts, that can be easily adjiisted to form awriting-desk, either level or inclined, to sit down by while writing, ora standingdesk, having either a level or an inclined top, and alsocapable of being readily converted into a broad, fiat drawingtable, orconveniently adjusted so as to form an'inclosed business-cabinet.

My invention consists, first, in the combination of twovertically-adjustable tables, one forming afront writing-desk, the othera cabinet for holding books, &c., both of which are separatelyadjustable, so that a flat drawing-table may be formed, or the back deskelevated so as to bring the books,papers, &c.,.within easy reach whenrequired.

Second, my inventionfurther consists in the arrangement and combinationof a Windlass, a pawl and ratchet-wheel, and aroller and cords, or theirequivalents, for the purpose of adjusting the back desk or cabinetvertically.

Ain saiddrawings represents the back desk or cabinet. It is madevertically adjustable by means of the Windlass O, which is preventedfrom turning backward, except when;

required, by thevpawl O and ratchet-wheel D. E is a cord or chain (orbelt) connected to the Windlass G, and extendingtherefrom over afriction-roller, D, and from thence down to the roller E, around whichit is wound several times, and fastened thereto. At each end of, theroller E is connected a cord, or its equivalent, F, which is woundaround it several times, and passed upward and over afriction-roller, F(shown in dotted lines, Fig. 4,) from which it passes down, and isfirmly fastened to the bottom of A, at F, one at each s1 e.

The operation of this part of my invention is as follows: When it isnecessary to lift the desk or cabinet A, the Windlass O is turned so asto wind up the cord or chain E, which turns the roller E by unwindingthe cord or belt E therefrom. This operation, as will be easily seen byreference to Fig. 4, winds up the cords or belts F on roller E, andconsequently draws them over the rollers F and the ends F upward,thereby elevating the desk. In letting it down, the pawl G (which iskept in place in the usual way by a spring) is pushed back out of theway, or from the teeth of the ratchetwheel, thereby releasing theWindlass, and allowing the desk to move down by its own weight as far asmay be required, after which the pawl is allowed to spring back to itsplace.

If it is designed to use the cabinet having the parts adjusted as shownin Fig. 3, the part A is raised up high enough to allow the side piecesGr to be turned out, as shown in Fig. 3.

They are shown as turned back into the desk A, in Fig. 4, to which theyare fastened bythe pins G. When turned out, as shown in Fig.,

3, they assist in holding A up firmly in position. The inner sides of Gare grooved, as shown at H, Fig. 4, and by the dotted lines H, Fig. 3,so that the ordinary flexible cover I, Fig. 4, may be made to slidetherein, and close the. desk in the usual way, while: adjusted, as shownin Figs. 1 and B represents the front desk; B an adjustable top, whichmay be inclined to any angle desired by means of the pawls B and racksJ. Two of such pawls should be arranged on a shaft placed lengthwise ofthe desk. J is a handle, (shown in Fig. 3,) connected to one end of theshaft for lifting or operating said pawl or pawls, so as to catch in theteeth of the racks J.

The front desk B, being light, is easilylifted by the hands, andadjusted to the height required by means of the pawl K and rack K.

It will be readily seen that both desks may be adjusted so as to be inthe same plane, thereby forming a broad, flat table, for drawing orother purposes, by combining the tops of the two desks.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination of two vertically adjustable tables, operated by means substantially as specified,one formingafront adjustable writing-desk, the other a cabinet for holding books,papers, &c., both of which are separately adjustable, so that a flatdrawing-table, adjustable to the height desired, may be formed, or theback and front tables adjusted to form a convenient cabinet andwriting-desk, as described.

2. The combination of the table A, side pieces G, and table B, arrangedsubstantially as specified, for holding and supporting the (Il esk orcabinet A, when elevated, as shown in In a verticallyadjustable desk, A,the combination of the side pieces G, pins G, and curtaifi or flexiblecover I, for the purposes describe DAVID L. RANSOM.

Witnesses Amos W. SANGSTER, JAMES SANGSTER.

